Book Review: John Adams by David McCullough

I recently finished reading John Adams by David McCullough, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, and was thoroughly impressed by the book as a whole.  The book is written as a biography of the life of the President John Adams, encompassing everything from his birth to his death.  John Adams also details many critical aspects of Adams’ life such as his family, his love for books, and his public service career to the United States of America.  The book is also the foundation of the HBO mini-series of the same name which received acclaim from critics and viewers alike.

I don’t think there was an aspect of the book that did not impress me in some way.  First, the style of writing used by David McCullough is critical in setting the events of the book and conveying the emotion that John Adams put into every aspect of his life.  It is as if McCullough is hosting the life of John Adams and is narrating it as it goes on, continually building on the past and leaving the reader wondering the path Adams will take next.   To say the book is anything but eloquently written would be an understatement.

In biographies, the reader is often given information about the subject from an outsiders point of view or from a first person perspective.  Unlike most biographies, John Adams conveys the material from all levels, including that of multiple people at the same time.  A large part of the book is devoted to the ever-changing relationship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, a topic that is important when retelling the story of Adams’ life.  David McCullough does not stick to telling of the relationship from the perspective of solely Adams or Jefferson; instead he conveys the information needed from the points of view from multiple people, including family members of both men and common friends.  The level of detail that is present in the book allows the reader to fully be encompassed in the lives of John Adams and the people who were important in his life.

Overall, John Adams is a stunning read for any individual who is interested in history or who would like to learn more about one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.  I would also recommend the book to people who do not have an interest in history because it contains a writing style which can be appreciated by any reader.   John Adams is a book like no other that can have a permanent impact on anyone who reads it.